Semi-automatic breech mechanism for guns



J. LUND.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC BREECH MEcHANlsM rok GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY`3, 1916. I Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

LV LL l. LUND.

'SEMI-AUTOMATICBHEECH MECHANISM FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. |916.

Patented Aug. 16,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

-1. LUND.

MAY 3, |916- A Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

UNITED STATS PArEQN'r orifice.'

JOHN LUND, on BETHLEHEM, rENNsYLvANIA, AssreNon To BETHLEH'EM s'rnnr.`

COMPANY, or SOUTH BETHLEHEM, i:-E1\rNsY1.vAN1A, A CORPORATION or. PENN.

SYLVANIA..

SEMI-AUTOMATIC BREECH MECHANISM FOR GUNS. j

Application filed May 3,

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN LUND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bethlehem, Northampton county, State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Semi-Automatic Breech Mechanism for Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a semi-automatic breech mechanism for guns.

The objects of the invention are to provide a semi-automatic breech mechanism for guns having an eccentric breech block; to operate such a mechanism by the recoil movement of the gun; to provide means to automatically close the block; to provide means to automatically eject the cartridge shell operated by the recoil of the gun; to provide means for storing up a portion of the energy of recoil to use the same to automatically close the block; and to embody these features in as simple a .mechanism as possible.

These and other features of the invention, including certain details of construction and combination of parts, will be set forth .in the following description and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a gun equipped with the semi-automatic breech mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view showing the block in closed position;

Fig. 4 is an end view similar to Fig. 3 with the block removed; v

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinalsectlon through the block and adjacent parts, showing the block in closed position;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 5 showing the block in open position.

The gun 10 is provided with a rotatable eccentric breech block 11, which is connected to the gun by means of a continuous thread 12 of the block, engaging a corresponding thread 13 out in the breech recess' of the gun. These threads have a floating lit, the cylindrical surfaces 14, 15 forming the bearings Specicaton of Letters Patent. 1331391117951 Aug.

1916. Serial. NO. 95,124. i

when the block is rotated.u As clearly shown, the thread is shaped in cross section so as to take the rearward thrust of the block to thebest advantage, that is, the two sides of a thread are not inclined equally, the side toward the rear of the gun being steeper than the other. The block is `formed with an aperture 16 throughwhichthe cartridge is passed. This aperture is located' eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the block. When the block is open the aperture is Opposite and in alinement with the bore of the gun, as shown in Fig. 6. Vhen closed, the block isturned through 189O from its open position. The extent of this motion is controlled by a stop pin 17 carried by the block which travels in a substantially semi-circular groove 18 formed.

in the breech face 19. When the block is closed the pin is in the right end of the groove, as seen in Fig. 4. When openthe pin is in the left end of the same, :as the block turns 180o in a clock-wise direction, as seen in Fig. 3, to open. The block is provided with the usual firing case 20 which is operated by means of the firing lever 21. This firing mechanism may be of any suitable type. An operating handle 22 is at-.`

tached to the block, so that the same may be operated manually if necessary or desirable.

A radial extension 23 on the block carries a roller 24 which coperatesr with a cam surface 25 formed on a bracket 26 vattached to the cradle 27 of the gun. As ,clearly shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3,thebracket extends rearwardly from the gunand its inner surface 1s curved about the axis of rotation of the block. .Obviously, the cam surfaceineedj not act on the block for the full 160o of its turning movement, as it ,may be designedof such shape that the block will be given suf-v ficient momentum while turning through the first part of the 180o to fully open the a radial flange 29 at its rear end, formed with bevel-gearteeth AsA to be described with the teeth 30 on the block, so that rotation of the block revolves the gear 33.

Attached to the top of the breech by means of the screws 34 and tongue and groove connection 35 is a bracket 36 which carries a spring housing 37. The bracket 86 has a cable drum cover plate 38 hinged'thereto as at 39. This cover plate removably carries a bushing 40 which takes over the top of the stud 31, the bushing and thus the cover being held in place by a pin 4l. The cover thus acts as a brace for the stud, and its hinged connection'acilitatesfrapid:dismounting and assembling of the block. The spring housing 37 isarranged longitudinally of the gun so that its aXi's is substantially tangent to the cylindrical `surface of the cable drum 82. A cable 42 or other flexible connection is attached at one end to thedrum and seated ina helical groove 43 formed therein. The cable extends around the drum in the groove 43 and to the farther end 'of the spring housing, Where it is attached to a disk Interposed between the disk 44 and the other end f of the spring housing is a coiled compression spring 45. When the block is rotated by the recoil Vmovement of the gun, throughthe gears 30 and 33,. drum 32 and cable 42, the spring 45 is compressed.V Thus energy from the recoil of the gun is stored in the spring, and this energy is used to return the block to closed position. The spring and coperating parts therefore Vconstitute a motor. It is obviousthat other forms oi motors such as fluid could be used, also other kinds ol'i springs. Furthermore, the spring motor illustrated might be located or arranged in various other positions and perform its function.V o Y Y n Directly over the bore of the gun, the breech recess is formed with a depression 46 of the shape illustrated in Fig. 4. A rectangular extractor'shait 47 having round bearings in the breech at 48 and 49 extends across. the depression. An V extractor comprising arms 50 and the connecting piece 5l is'mou'nted'on the'rectangular portion of the extractor shaft. The tivo arms `50 are adapts ed to beV-retractedinto the recesses 52 formedl inthe breecln The arms are spaced apart so Vas to straddle Y fa cartridge and 'catch against the Y rim ofthe, saine.V A rectangularY portion of thei'piece 51 iscut aivay asY at' 53',r

cam is designed so as to impart to the extractor a slow and powerful movement at iirst, followedA by a rapid movement, which finally ejects the cartridge case, clear of the gun. The extractor dog has an arm` 56 against which a spring 57 acts to normally retract'the dog Within the` depression 46.

Y The extractor shaft alsoV carries non-rotatively a block locking arm'S, which can be retracted into a recess 59 formed in the breech.r This arm is provided with a lip 60 which is adapted to catch in a correspondingly shaped recess 6l in the block. The arm and recess form a block lock to hold the block in open position. The lock may be ret leased by operating the handle 62 attached to the extractor shaft, or may be actuated to release the block 'automatically when a shell is inserted, the shell acting against Vthe extractor arms to rotate the extractor shat't and release the lock.

The operation of' the mechanism is as fols lows: The recoil of the gun causes the roller 24 on the breech block to travel alongthe cam 25, thus rotating'the block to open posi tion. Thile rotating, the ramp or cam acts on the extractor to eject the shell and to operate the block lock,the action oi the cam being supplemented byV the spring 57, so that the last portion oi' the movement of the extractor andV block lock is due tothe said spring. By means of the bevel gears and the cable thespring is compressed, thus storing up some of the energy oirecoil, to be used to close the block. lVhen a shell is inserted, the block locky is automatically released, and

Y the spring motor operates to close'the block.

It, for any reason, the block does not rotate to its open position or is not locked open, and returns to closed position be'lorc the gun has returned'to battery, then the roller 2l; Will'ride on the cani Surface' 28,.tbus permitting the Ygun to return to battery. li the cam 2G terminated at the low point, and thevbracket 'were formed with a fiat end lace, under the above conditions, the roller would probably strike the flat end iacc, either breaking a part, or preventing the gun from returning toA battery.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: l Y Y l. A semi-automatic.breech mechanism for guns'comprising a breech block mounted io'r rotation about an axis parallel to and offset from the axis offthergunv barrel and moving With the barrel at all times, means Jfor rotatingsaid block to open Vthe same operated Vby and duringthe recoil of the gun, a spring connectedto saidbleeh block and tending to elo'se'the same, anda releasable look for holding the block in open position.

2.. In a `semi-automatic breech mechanismI for guns having a breech block mounted for rotationabout an axis parallel to and oii'set from the axis of the gun barrel, a motor acting to close said block, and means including a block rotating element for storing energy in said motor, operated by and during the recoil of the gun.

3. In a semi-automatic breech mechanism for guns having a rotatably mounted eccentric breech block, a cam carried by the cradle of the gun, a roller on the block coperating with the cam whereby the block will be rotated to open position on recoil of the gun, a spring connected to the block and tending to close the same, and releasable means Jfor holding the block open.

4. In combination with a gun, a semi-automatic breech mechanism including a breech block mounted to rotate about an axis parallel to but offset from the axis of the gun barrel, means for rotating the block to open the same during the recoil of the gun, a cartridge case ejector and a cam on the block f'or operating said ejector.

5. In combination with a gun, a semi-automatic breech mechanism including a breech block mounted to rotate about an axis parallel to but offset from the axis of the gun barrel, means for rotating the block to open the same during the recoil of the gun, a cartridge case ejector and a cam formed on the inner end of the block for operating said ejector.

6. In combination with a gun, a semi-automatic breech mechanism including a breech block mounted to rotate about an axis parallel to but offset from the axis of the gun barrel, means for rotating the block to open the same during the recoil of the gun, a cartridge case ejector mounted between the inner end of the block and the gun barrel and a cam formed on said inner end for operating said ejector.

7. In combination with a gun, a semi-automatic breech mechanism including a breech block moving with the gun barrel at all times and mounted for rotation aboutl an axis parallel to and offset from the axis of the gun barrel, means for automatically opening said block during the recoil of the gun, releasable means for holding the block in open position, and means for automatically closing said block when it is released.

8. In combination with a gun having a breech recess the axis of which is offset relative to the axis of the gun barrel, a breech block rotatively mounted in said recess, means for automatically rotating said block to open the same during the recoil of the gun, and releasable means arranged between the bottom of the recess and the inner end of the block for holding the block in open position.

9. In combination with a gun, a semi-automatic breech mechanism including a breech block mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to and offset from the axis of the gun barrel, means for rotating said block to open the same operated by the recoil of the gun, a motor acting to close said bloclr, and means for storing energy in said motor operated by the opening rotation of said block.

l0. In combination with a gun, a semiautomatic breech mechanism including a ro'- tatably mounted breech block, means operated by the recoil of the gun for rotating said block to open the breech, a motor acting to close said block, and means for storing energy in said motoroperated by the block and during its rotation in opening.v

1l. In combination with a gun, a semiautomatic breech mechanism including a breech block rotatable on an axis parallel to the axis of the gun, means operated by the recoil of the gun for rotating said blockto open the breech, a motor acting to close said block and means for storing energy in said motor operated by the block and during its opening movement.

12. Y semi-automatic breech mechanism for guns comprising` a breech block mounted to move to open and close the breech, means to open the block, a rotatably mounted drum, a spring, a connector secured to the spring and adapted to be wound on the drum, means actuated by the opening movement of the block to rotate said drum and place the spring under strain, and a releasable device to hold the block open.

13. A semi-automatic breech mechanism for guns comprising a breech block mounted to move to open and close the breech, means to open the block, a rotatably mounted drum, a spring associated with said drum, gearing connecting the bleek and drum whereby the drum is rotated by the opening movement of the block and the spring placed under strain, and a releasable device to hold the' blocx 105 open.

14. The combination with a gun having a circular breech recess the axis of which is offset from the gun axis, a breech block rotatably mounted in said recess and formed 110 with a cartridge aperture, and means to rotate said block to bring the aperture into register with the bore ol the gun operated by and during the recoil of the gun.

l5. The combination with a gun having 115 a circular breechA recess the axis of which is offset from the gun axis, a breech block rotatably mounted in said recess and formed with a cartridge aperture, and means to rotate said block t o bring the aperture into 120 register with the bore of the gun operated by the recoil of the gun, said means including a cam member on the cradle.

16. The combination with a gun having a circular breech recess the axis of which is 125 offset from the gun axis, a breech block rotatably mounted in said recess and formed with a cartridge aperture, means to rotate during the recoil oit' the gun, 2L spring tending to turn said block to. close the bore, and a releasable device to hold the block open.

17. The combination With a, gun having a circular breech recess the axisV of which is offset from the gun axis, a breech block rotatably mounted in said recess and formed with a cartridge aperture, means to rotate said block to bring the aperture into register With the bore of the gun operated by and 10 during the recoil of the gun, and means operated by the said lrotation of the block tol eject the cartridge.

In testimony whereof I affix Iny signature.

JOHN LUND. 

